01Trade cost
Masonry and stone cost in Canada
Block, brick, stone and veneer, plus reinforcement and ties. A skilled-labour trade, so cost tracks local trade capacity more than material price.
02The rate
Commercial hourly
$85 – $145
Billed rate, national band
General hourly
$75 – $130
House-scale work
Commercial $/sf
$6 – $10
3% of hard cost
General $/sf
$8 – $13
From the residential band
The cost per square foot above is not a separate dataset. It is 3% of the curated new-build hard-cost band and 0% of the curated fit-out band that the market pages already publish, so this page can never contradict them.
03General versus commercial
The two segments, side by side
| Segment | Hourly | New build $/sf | Fit-out $/sf |
|---|---|---|---|
| General / residential | $75 – $130 | $8 – $13 | — |
| Commercial | $85 – $145 | $6 – $10 | — |
Why commercial masonry and stone bills higher
Commercial masonry includes reinforced and load-bearing block, engineered veneer anchorage and inspection. Residential masonry is typically a veneer or a chimney.
What the quoted rate covers
Normally: Units, mortar, reinforcement and ties; Laying, pointing and cleaning; Standard scaffold for low-rise work. Normally not: Structural steel lintels and shelf angles; Air and vapour barrier behind the veneer; Winter heating and hoarding; Restoration and matching of existing units.
Buildlor facts
- Masonry and stone is 3% of hard cost on a new build.
- Masonry and stone is 0% of hard cost on a fit-out.
- Hard cost is typically 60 to 75 percent of an all-in budget, so a trade's share of the total is smaller again.
04What moves the number
Cost drivers
- Local mason availability: this is the trade where a thin market shows up most directly in the rate.
- Unit and bond pattern: a stack bond or a cut stone raises labour per square foot sharply.
- Reinforced load-bearing block prices well above a veneer.
- Season: masonry in a Canadian winter carries heat and hoarding cost or a schedule delay.
05By market
Masonry and stone cost by city
Every market below carries a curated cost factor, so the trade rate moves with it. Markets we publish a dedicated page for are linked.
| Market | Commercial $/sf | General $/sf |
|---|---|---|
| Toronto, ON | $7 – $11 | $9 – $14 |
| Montreal, QC | $6 – $10 | $8 – $12 |
| Calgary, AB | $6 – $10 | $8 – $13 |
| Ottawa, ON | $7 – $10 | $8 – $13 |
| Edmonton, AB | $6 – $10 | $8 – $12 |
| Winnipeg, MB | $6 – $9 | $8 – $12 |
| Mississauga, ON | $7 – $11 | $9 – $14 |
| Vancouver, BC | $7 – $11 | $9 – $14 |
06Questions
How much does masonry and stone cost per hour?
Masonry and stone is billed in a band, not at one rate. Commercial work bills above general work for the same hour because of documentation, inspection and coordination. The bands on this page are national baselines; the market table shows how they move by city.
Why is commercial masonry and stone more expensive than residential?
Commercial masonry includes reinforced and load-bearing block, engineered veneer anchorage and inspection. Residential masonry is typically a veneer or a chimney.
What share of a construction budget is masonry and stone?
3% of hard cost on a new build and 0% of a fit-out, on the division splits Buildlor publishes. Those shares are how the cost per square foot on this page is derived.
Is this a quote?
No. Buildlor is a data publisher, not a contractor. These are indicative benchmarks for the stage before you tender, and every page states what it excludes.
Buildlor Construction Cost Index · Last updated 2026-01-15 · Maintained by Buildlor Cost Desk
Not advice — Buildlor is a data publisher. We do not bid, price, estimate, or build work, and nothing here is a quote, a tender price, or construction advice. Figures are indicative order-of-magnitude benchmarks for early budgeting and must be confirmed by a qualified cost consultant, quantity surveyor, or general contractor before you rely on them. About Buildlor